Becoming a Physical Therapist
How Do I Become a Physical Therapist in Pennsylvania?
Educational and Licensure Requirements:
Earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a nationally accredited college
Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) examination
Apply and obtain a license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (PSBPT)
For initial PA Licensure, complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse, recognition
and reporting.
How Do I Become a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) in Pennsylvania?
Educational and Licensure Requirements:
Graduate from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant education program (Associate’s Degree)
Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) examination for PTA’s
Apply and obtain a license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (PSBPT)
For initial PA Licensure, complete 3 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse, recognition
and reporting.
How Do I Become a School-Based Physical Therapist (PT) or Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) in Pennsylvania?
In addition to the above requirements, as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the PT/PTA must complete and pass
criminal background check
child abuse history clearance
federal fingerprinting clearance
PA Child Abuse and Mandated Reporter Training
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release
a supplemental but NOT required qualification would be to become a Board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy certified through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties
What Do I Need to Do to Keep My PT Licensure in Pennsylvania?
- Renew your license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (every 2 years), by December 31 of every even-numbered year.
- Complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years.
- Of those 30 hours, 2 hours must be Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting.
What Do I Need to Do to Keep My PTA Licensure in Pennsylvania?
- Renew your license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy (every 2 years), by December 31 of every even-numbered year
- Complete qualifying continuing education equal to at least 30 contact hours (every 2 years)
These hours must include: at least 4 contact hours in identifying and responding to emergency health conditions, at least 2 contact hours in law or ethics applicable to the practice of physical therapy and at least 2 contact hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.
What does a Physical Therapist Program look like?
Average length of professional DPT programs is typically 3years.
Curriculum may include, but are not limited to, biology, anatomy, cellular histology, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, ethics/values, management sciences, finance, sociology, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, cardiovascular and pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, and musculoskeletal.
- Approximately, 77% of the DPT curriculum is classroom (didactic) and lab study.
- Approximately, 23% is dedicated to clinical education (average of 22 weeks in their final clinical experience).
What does a Physical Therapist Assistant Program look like?
- Average length of a PTA program is typically two years (five semesters).
Curriculum may include, but are not limited to anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, clinical pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, and ethics/values.
- Approximately 75% of the PTA curriculum is classroom (didactic) and lab study.
- Approximately 25% is dedicated to clinical education (on average 16 weeks in full-time clinical education experiences).
What Do I Need to Do to Get into a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) School? (APTA, American Physical Therapy Association)
There is not a specific undergraduate major that is required to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree.
Some common undergraduate majors among doctor of physical therapy students include exercise science, biology, kinesiology, and psychology.
Each DPT School will have their own specific prerequisite courses that are required.
Visit the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCA) directory https://www.apta.org/cas/ptcas or the specific institution you would like to attend to determine what courses are required.
Other requirements may include: minimal grade point average (GPA), minimal acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), physical therapy volunteer experience/hours, recommendation/reference letters, interview with the institution, state residency requirements, criminal background checks, technical standards and essential functions.
Apply by using a single online application and one set of materials to multiple education programs, Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (most DPT schools participate in this).
PTA programs are not considered to be a steppingstone to a PT education or career. The curriculum differs from that of the physical therapist and does not provide the needed prerequisites required for physical therapist education.
What Do I Need to Do to Get into a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) School? (APTA, American Physical Therapy Association)
There are no standard admission requirements for PTA education
Many schools require a competitive grade point average, volunteer experience in a physical therapy clinic/setting, and a letter of reference from a physical therapist.
May be asked to disclose any previous felony or misdemeanor convictions as part of the application process. The APTA is developing a centralized application service for PTA programs. In the meantime, applications need to be sent directly to the PTA programs.
- Accredited Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant Schools in the United States
Where Do Physical Therapists Work?
They work in a wide-range of environments including but not limited to: hospitals, outpatient clinics, people's homes, sports and fitness facilities, workplaces, extended care centers, nursing homes and schools, (APTA, 2024).
Where Do Physical Therapist Assistants Work?
A majority work in hospitals or out-patient practices but also: home health, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities or schools, (APTA, 2024).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics last modified Wednesday, April 17, 2024:
For Physical Therapists: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm
The median annual wage for physical therapists was $99,710 in May 2023.
Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 13,900 openings for physical therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
For Physical Therapist Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm
The median annual wage for physical therapist assistants was $64,080 in May 2023.
Overall, employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 19% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 24,300 openings for physical therapist assistants and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Where Can I Find Student Physical Therapist and Student Physical Therapist Assistants Organizations and Resources?
American Physical Therapy Association, https://www.apta.org/for-students
APTA Pennsylvania, https://www.aptapa.org/
American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (ACAPT)
https://acapt.org/resources/students/student-resources
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (National Physical Therapy Examination info)
https://www.fsbpt.org/
Events:
APTA Doctor of Physical Therapy Virtual Fair (September 18, 2024)
https://www.careereco.com/Fair/EventDetails?fairId=f14af367-9dfa-417f-8b6d-b0ff00cd2ba4
Every October we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month!
APTA: PT Moves Me – Student Recruitment Campaign
https://www.apta.org/news/2021/07/14/pt-moves-me